Band blade slicing machine



' Nov. 28, l1939.

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W. w. HARTMAN BAND BLADE SLIGING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 William WaZl'er//ar'mam` 37 39 llorlzgj Nov. 2K8. V11939.

w. w. HARTMAN BAND BLADE SLICING MACHINE Filed Marsh 24 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 28, 1939. w. w. HARTMAN BAND BLADE SLICING MACHINE 'r sheets-sheet s Filed March 24, 1959 lZI/enlor.

N0v 28., 1939. w. w. HARTMAN BAND BLADE SLICING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 [zzz/anion Will m Walter #af-Iman.

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ya i220 Nov. 28, 1939. w. wl 'HARTMAN BAND BLADE SLICING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q SI n. NQ Q @A i @Ms .m J am .n u 7 w M M NQ m .m K d W mL, EN W Nov. 28, 1939. w, w HARTMAN 2,181,233

vBAND BLADE SLICING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1959 '7 lSheets-Sheet 6 llzvenlor. o William Waller /arlman.

Nov. 28. 1939. w. w. HARTMAN BAND BLADE SLICING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 24, 1939 IIIIHO. nl l fzOO inve/150)'. William Waler Harlman.

or/zey Patented Nov. 28, ''39 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE BAND BLADE sLIcmG MACHINE William Walter Hartman, Los Angeles, Calif. Application `March 24, 1939, Serial No. 263,928

1s claims. (c1. 14s-ss) This invention relates generally to bread and purpose being directed to the accompanying other article slicing machines of the endless band drawings, in which: blade type, and d eals more particularly with Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with means for adjusting the blade separation dis-l parts broken' away;

tance in such machines for the purpose of regu- Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 5 lating thickness of slice. of Fig. 1;

Bread slicing machinesof the endless band Fig. 3 is a section taken on brokenline 3-3 blade type comprise a multiplicity of endless band of Fig. 2; blades trained on a system of drums or rollers, Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken as indicated and so arranged as to present a multiplicity of by line 4 4 of Fig. 2; l0 blade courses dispos-ed in spaced parallel planes, Fig. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 3;

against and through which the loaves to be sliced Fig. 5a is a detail taken on line Ear-5a of may be successively moved. Guide means are Fig. 5;

ordinarily provided to space the blade courses Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5: for the slice thickness desired. Various types Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4; 15

of mechanisms have previously been'proposed Fig. 'la is a section taken on line Ia-1a of for the purpose of regulating the spacing interval Fig. 4; f

between the guides for the individual blade Fig. 8 isV an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 2;

courses in order to adjust for different slice thick- Fig. 9 is a section taken as indicated by broken nesses. The provision Vof a suitable mechanism line 9-9 of Fig, 4;

for regulating the spacing interval between the Fig. 10 is a section taken as indicated by line blade guides, however, is a problem that is difilvIll-III of Fig. 3;

cult of solution in a practical manner, and the Fig. 11 is a detail taken as indicated by line various previously proposed slice thickness ad- `I I--II of Fig. 3;

justment mechanisms of which I am aware are Fig. 12 is a detail section on line I2-I2 of g5 either exceptionally complicated, expensive to Fig. '7; manufacture, o-f a type involving accumulation Fig. 13 is a detail section on line I3--I3 of of frictions to such an extent as to render them Fig. 7; difficult if not impossible of operation, or are Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a blade guide incapable of assuring a uniform thickness of device;` Y l 30 slice at a given setting. Fig. 15 isadetail section taken on line I5-I5 It is accordingly the object of the present inv of Fig. 7a; vention to provide a mechanism for varying the Fig. 16 is a detail section taken on line IS-IG spacing interval between blade courses in a mulof Fig. 7a; 35 tiple band blade slicing machine, which is-com Fig. l''shows a portion of Fig. 4, withtheaddiu paratively simple, inexpensive to manufacture, is tion of a slice thickness gauge; and freely and easily operable under the control of Fig. 18 is a view'looking downwardly on the a manual operating device such as a crank, and gauge device of Fig. 17. j which at the same time positively assures precise The general frame structure of the machine uniformity of slice thickness at' any `given setting. includes base I5, and mounted on this base is a 40 The particular band blade slicing machine vertically extending frame structure, somewhat chosen for exemplication of the invention is of box-like in external form1 including parallel front a type having certain individual blade tensioning and rear sides I6 and II and atop I8. Front devices, and it is a further object of the inven- 4side I6 is provided with a swinging door I9 hinged tion to provide means for simultaneously adjustas at 20. A frame casting 2| extends verticallyl 4| ing in a' corresponding manner the spacing of from base- I5 to top I'adjacent the inner sursaid tensioning devices. y face of frame side I 'I,- and supports the mecha- Further objects of the invention have to do nism as hereinafter to be explained. A pair of with novel features of design, structure and arvertical frame bars 22 and 23 xtend from base orangement, directed toward simplicity, conven- I5 to top I8 adjacent the inner surface of side l0 .ience of operation and adjustment, freedom of I6, and also serve to support the mechanism.

manipulation for adjustment purposes, etc. The 4 A plurality or series of endless band blades 30 invention itself will be fully understood from are looped over u'pper and lower blade supporting the following detailed description of -one present drums 3| and 32,respectively, which are preferpreferred embodiment thereof, reference for this ably 0I the same diameter and preferably have their axes substantially parallel and in the same vertical plane. The blades preferably go on drums 3| and 32 in the manner indicated in the several figures, the blade loop being first passed over upper drum 3|, then being twisted through a half-tum (180), and finally passed over lower drum 32. This threading arrangement brings the cutting edges of the central portions of both courses of each of the band blades to a position directed toward the front end of the machine, from which direction the loaves or other 4articles are fed against the blades.

Lower drum 32 is mounted as low in the machine as possible. For this purpose, base member I5 is formed with an opening I5a adapted to receive the lower portion of the drum, as indicated in Fig. 3. This drum 32 comprises a cylindrical shell 33 mounted on drum ends 35 and 33, which are in turn mountedfor rotation on a nonlrotatable shaft 31, suitable bearings being provided as typically 'indicated at 38 and 33 in Fig. 2. 'Ihe rearward end of shaft 31 is provided with a flange 33 by which it is secured to mounting casting 2|, as indicated. LA removable support is provided for the` other end of the shaft, and as here shown, comprises a pointed centering shaft 35 screwthreaded, as at 33a, within a supporting member 33 mounted on base I5 and engageable at its forward end with a conical socket 33 in the end of shaft 31. The outer endof shaft 35 has a hexagonal head 53 by which it may be screwed into and out of engagement with drum shaft 31, members'31 and 35 being thus separable to clear a space for placing the endless blades on over drum 32. During operation of the machine the drum is steadied by shaft 33.

The inner end of drum' 32 is formed with a pair of peripheral V-grooves 32 for driving belts 1133 driven by a pulley y3l., the latter being driven through suitable reduction gears, not shown, from the `shaft of an electric motor'YNa mounted on base I5.

Upper drum 3| consists similarly of a cylindrical shell 33 mounted onl drum ends 33 and 231,

which are in turn rotatably moimtedsby means of bearings 33 and 53 on a non-rotatable shaft 33,

the inner end of the latter having a flange 3I secured to frame casting- 2I, as'clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The outer end of shaft 33 -is drilled and internally screwthreaded` to receive the screwthre'aded extremity'of a shaft 13 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 'I2 canied by the lower end of a hanger 13 pivotally mount-ed at 13 on top member I3. AShaft 13'has a hexagonal he ad 15 by which it may be screwed into or backed out of engagement with the vscrewthread'- ed socket in the end of shaft 33, so that mem-- bers 33 and 13 are separable from one another for the purpose of placing new blades on over quite close to one another, as illustrated. Simi- Y larly, .there is mounted at an elevation below that of upper drum 3|, and preferably oneon each-side of the plane passing through lthe axes of drums 3| and 32, a, pair of. rotatable blade deflecting drums 31 and 33, the drums3l', 31 and 33 likewise being located quite close to one another in the form of the machine here illustrated.

To provide automaticfindividual m1319131@ 0f the blades 30, one of the aforementioned blade engaging drums is segmented into a plurality of individual blade engaging drums, one for each of band blades 30. In the present illustrative embodiment of the invention, drum 88 is so segmented. Thus, this drum 88 is made up of a series of individual blade tensioning drums 83, as will later be described in more detail, but insofar as the blade deflecting function is concerned the segmented drum 88 may for present purposes be broadly considered as a single drum like -3|, 32, 8 5, 86, and 81. Drums 85, 86 and 81 are mounted for rotation on fixed center shafts 35a, 36a. and 81a, respectively, and these center shafts may be substantially like the previously described shafts 31 and 30, their rearward ends being provided with mountings on frame casting 2| similar to those described for shafts 31 and 80. The forward ends of shafts 35a, 88a and 31a, however, are supported by bracket arms 35h, 83h and 31h secured to frame posts 22 and 23.

As shown in the drawings, drums 85, 88, 31 and 33 engage all the courses of the band blades between upper andlower drums 3| and 32 and deflect said courses substantially over toward the plane that passes approximately midway between upper drums 31 and 33, and lower drums 33 and 33, this plane. in the illustrative embodiment, also passing approximately through the substantiallyfidru'm andV blade arrangement with someparticu- 'larity this is'for illustrative purposes only, and :while the specific arrangementy illustrated is prevferred, nevertheless any other suitable or desired drum and blade arrangement may be employed which will bring the blade courses into spaced parallel planes 'at the slicing zone, and which will permit the spacing between the bladecourses to be regulated.

The individual blade guide devices for the upper and lower rows aredesignated by the nu- -merals 33a and 33a, rpectively. Inaccordance with the invention, these blade guide devices 33a and 33a are adjustably movable to vary the sparc--l ing interval between blade courses. As here shown, the guide devices 33a (see Fig. 14) each embody a molmting block 35 formed with a vertical slot 33 in which is received the rearward ends of a 'pair of forwardly projecting blade guide plates 31, a spacer 33 placed between the rearward end portions oil plates 31 spacing-said platesl apart byv a distance just slightly greater than the thickness of a blade s'o as to afford a blade guide slot s providing a free nmning ilt for the blade. Plates 31 are secured to blocks 33 as by means of pins 33. It will be understood that there is one such blade guide device 33a for each'of .the two vertical courses of each band blade.

Projecting rearwardly from the mounting blocks 33`of blade guide devices 33a are mounting pins |33. Those pins |33 project through and are plvotally received within drill holes I3| in the `lower ends of depending, swinging arms |32, the

rearward sides of blocks 33v engaging and being rotatable upon the adjacent surfaces of arms |02. Suitable provision is made such that the guide devices will not become separated from arms |02; for example, the end portions of pins |00 projecting through arms |02 may be provided with cotter pins |03. However, whatever the nature of the means employed to fasten the guide devices against separation from the arms, ready detachability is very desirable, as there are a large number of the guide devices, and they must be changed from time 4to time as wear occurs. The cotter pin construction illustrated is one simple expedient; any other may be substituted. Blocks 95, together with blade guide plates 91, are thus rotatable on the axes of pins |00 in the ends of arms |02.

The upper ends of arms |02' are pivotally mounted, by means of pivot pins |04, on a supporting means or arm carrier |05 extending transversely of the blade courses (Figs. 4, 7 and 13). As will be clear from Fig. 7, the upper ends of arms |02 are pivotally mounted on supporting means |05 on equally spaced centers, the spacing preferably being equal to the mean of the minimum and maximum slice thicknesses desired. For

example, if the minimum slice thickness desired is and the maximum'is 1%", then the space between pivot centers of arms |02 will preferably be approximately Preferably, and in the specific illustrative form of the invention here shown, supporting means |05 comprises a pair of approximately horizontal arm carrier bars or arms |06 and |01 hinged or pivotally connected to one another near the center line of the machine, as by means of a pivot pin |08, and this vpivot pin |08 is set in and extends from a vertical transversely extending mounting plate |09 (see Figs. 4 and 7)the supporting arrangements for which will be described later. Pivot pin |08 takes the place ofthe pivot pin 04 which would be at that location if the pivot connection between arms |06 and |01 were not employed, and serves as a mounting for the corresponding arm |02, as will be clear from Figs.

4 and 7. Thelocation of this pin connection between arms |06 and |01 is preferably offset approximately half the thickness of a slice, e. g., 1%", from the center line of the machine (see Fig. 7). There are then an equal number of arms |02 on each side of the center line. A keeper strap ||2 secured to plate |09 (Figs. 4 and- '7) confines arms |20 against working oil? the pivot pins |04 which constitute the mountings for the arms. I

The adjacent ends of bars |06 and |01 are thus pivotally mounted on an anchoring pin |08 projecting from mounting plate |09. The outer ends of bars or arms |06 and |01 are supported and transversely of the blade courses (that is in a general way crosswise of the machine) for the purpose of regulating the distance between the blade guide devices, and therefore betweenv adjacent blade courses. Since blade guide devices 93a are pivotally mounted on the lower ends of arms |02, they are capable of relative rotation with .the multiplicity of blade guide devices.

reference to arm |02 as the latter are moved in this plane of action. Accordingly, these blade guide devices, under'the constraint imposed 'by the vertically travelling central portions of the blade courses, pivot on the lower ends of the arms in such away that their 4blade guide slots s remain verticalduring swinging of the arms.

vAt the same time, however, the blade vguide devices support the blade courses in positions twisted 90 from their positions on the drums 30 and 3|, or in other words, in spaced parallel planes extending longitudinally of the machine. Thus it will be understood that as arms |02 are swung on their pivot mountings |04, blade guide devices 93a will be separated or moved closer together, and that as this operation takes place, the blade guide devices, under the constraint imposed by the blades themselves, have a relative pivotal actionon the lower ends of the arms such as to maintain their blade guide slots s vertically disposed.

I now proceed to a description of a preferred means in accordance with the invention for swinging arms |02 in such a way as to regulate the spacing distance between the guide slots of This means, in the specific form here illustrated; comprises a vertically movable cam member or plate |20, provided with a multiplicity of cam ele-Y ments, preferably in the form of angular cam slots |2| of diverse pitches, one for each of arms |02, together with cam follower elements carried by'arms |02, preferably in the form of follower blocks |22 received within cam slots |2I. Ihis plate |20 is located between arms |02 and the aforementioned mounting plate |09 (see Fig. 4). Secured to thev ends of this mounting plate, on .its side opposite from arms |02, as by means of studs |23 v(Figs. 7, 'la and 16) are nut members |25 which project through apertures |24 in plate |99 and which engage vertical lead screws |26 located beyond plate |09. These lead screws |26, which are supported and operated as later to be described, are operable to move cam plate |20 in a vertical direction between limits whichare set by the ends |24 of apertures |24 in plate |09 through which nut members |25 project.

As previously mentio: ai arms |02 are furnished with follower blr. irs |22 received in cam slots |2|.` These vfollower blocks are'pivotally connected to arms |02, preferably at approximately the mid-points of the latter, by pivot pins |30, and cam slots |2| are angularly disposed, so that when cam plate |20 is moved in a vertical direction, arms |02 are swung, in a transverse plane, on their upper pivots |04.

In the particular embodiment of the invention here illustrated, the cam slot in plate |20 .corresponding to the arm |02 suspended from fixed pivot pin |06, is vertically disposed and hence imparts no movement to the associated arm |02. This fixed arm and verticalk cam slot, though preferably offset a slight distance from ,the true centerline ofthe machine, representthe center of symmetry of the cam slots, and of the swinging action of the arms. The remaining cam slots are thus symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of said vertical slot, and in the illustrative form here shown, slope inwardly or toward the center in a downward direction, the angle of inclination of successive slots being progressively greater with increasing distance from the center (see Fig. 7) While the cam slots are illustrated in the drawings as straight or substantially so,

center to center of it is to be understood that they are not necessarily straight, but may, if desirable or necessary, be modied in shape or direction for the purpose of modifying the kinematics of the mechanism to compensate any eects such as may be introduced, for example, by the later described movement of arm carrying bars |06 and |01.

In the illustrative machine here illustrated, the central band blade will be understood to have its two courses received by the blade guide devices carried by the xed arm and by the next adjacent arm on the left hand side, as viewed in Fig. 7. The next band blade on the left hand side of center has its two courses received by the guide devices carried by the next two arms, while the two courses of the band blade on the immediate right hand side of the central blade are received by the guide devices carried by the two arms just to the left of the central arm, and

so on.

Suppose now for illustration the machine is to vary the slice thickness within a range of to s". The positioning and spacing of thelifcam slots will then be such that when cam plate |20 is at the lowermost limit of its stroke, the blade guiden slots s will have a spacing interval from The inclination and the position of the cam slot immediately to the left of the vertical central slot is then such that lwhen cam plate |20 is moved from its lowermost to its uppermost position, the spacing interval between the center of the blade guide slot associated with the xed arm and the center of the blade guide slot associated with the arm |02 immediately to the left increases from to T96". The inclination of the cam slot immediately to the right of the vertical cam slot will be such that the spacing interval between the blade guide slot of the xed arm |02 and the blade guide slot of the arm next toit on the righthand side will be correspondingly increased to Thus, the two blade guide slots immediately to the right and to the left of the xed guide slot -will have been moved outwardly through distances equal to 1%". The two cam slots next outside will then have such inclination that the corresponding blade guide slots will at the same time have been moved through distances of The next cam slots will have such inclinations that the two next blade guide slots will have been moved outwardly through distances of 1'5", and so on by equal increments.

Thus, it will be understood that movement of cam plate |20 from its lowermostto its uppermost position will move' arms |02 in opposite directions on the two sides of the center of symV metry, so as to increase the spacing distances between successive blade guide slots while main- 'taining said spacing distances uniform with one another at all times. The adjustment is preferably made while the machine is running, and the blades travelling through the guide slots provided by the blade guide devices easily move along their guide drums to accommodate themselves to the adjusted positions of the guide devices.

A similar means is provided for correspondingly adjusting the spacing between the lower row of blade guide devices 94a. In a specific form of the invention here shown, I employ forthis purpose a mechanism similar to 'that described for the upper row of blade guide vdevices 93a, the only difference being an inversion, both top for bottom and front to rear, and also, preferably, the use of an inclined position in the case of the lower spacing means. It is deemed by this inclined lo f'supporting means S.

As illustrated, bladeguide devices 94a, which may be exactly similar to the aforementioned upper blade guide devices 93a, are pivotally mounted on the upper ends ofswinging. arms |02a, which are exactly similar to arms |02, the only difference being that they extend upwardly instead of I, hanging downwardly from their pivotal mountings. however, that whereas the mounting members |06 and |01 for upper arms |02, and also the cam plate |20 for said arms, are located on the oppo site side of said arms. from the blade courses, in the instance of the lower adjustment mechanism, the corresponding members are located between the arms and lthe blade courses. With these points of difference and resemblance in mind, a detailed description of the mechanism for operating lower arms |02a will not be necessary, attention simply being called to the fact that corresponding parts of the adjustment mechanisms for upper blade guide devices 93a and lower blade guide devices 94a are identilied by the same reference numerals, 'but with the subletter a adjoined in the case of the latter.

It is also to be observed,

It will be evident, from reference to Fig. '1, that y lmovement is imparted to cam plate y |20' are formed with inwardly extending brackets |40l the inner ends of which are connected by means of links |4| to bell-crank members |42 pivotally mounted at |43 on the aforementioned mounting plate |05, and having connection at |44 with the outer, swinging ends of arms |06 and |01. This connection may comprise (see Figs. 9 and 15) a stud |45'projecting from member |42, the latter pivotally carrying a square block |46 slidably A received within a longitudinal slot |41 formed in the outer end portion of thev corresponding swinging arm, a nut |40 screw-threaded on the outer end of stud |45 holding the members in assembly.

It will be evident that as cam'plate |20 is moved in an upward direction, for example, so as-to swing arms |02 in an outward direction, the corresponding elevation of brackets |40 will act sliding blocks |46 to lower the outer ends of arms |06 and |01. The multiplying ratio of the inter# connecting'linkage between cam plate |20 and arms |06 and |01 is such that arms will be lowered by approximately the correct distance to 75,

, through links |4|, bell-crank members |42 and 70 tion of the blade guide devices carried by the' swinging arms |02. Thus the vertical position or alinement of the blade guide devices is malntained approximately constant throughout the adjustment for different slice thicknesses.

Corresponding compensation is provided for the swinging` arms |02a associated with lower blade guide devices 94a, so that the latter also are maintained approximately in vertically alined position throughout the adjustment operation. Since the arrangements'for accomplishing this compensation are again the counterparts of those described in detail in connection with the upper blade guide devices, no further detailed description will be necessary, it being suiicientv to point out that corresponding members are identified by the same numerals, but with the subletter a adjoined in the case of the mechanism associated with lower blade guide devices 94a.

'I'he mechanism for supporting lower swinging arms |02 includes mounting plate |09a (corresponding to previously described mounting plate |09) to which lower arm supporting bars |06a and |01a are connected by pin |08a, and against which slides cam plate |20a, it being noted that mounting plate |09a and also cam plate |20a are disposed parallel to the plane of inclination of arms |02a. This plate |09a is secured at its opposite edges by upper and lower brackets |50 and |5| to vertical frame members |52 and |53. These frame members |52 and |53, which serve as the supports for the upper and lower blade guide adjustment mechanisms, areA located just outside and extend throughout the vertical extent of said mechanisms. Frame member |53 is supported from main frame casting 2| by suitable brackets or posts, such as indicated at |55 and |56, while frame member |52, on the side adjacent front door |9. is provided with a pair of horzontallyextending arms |51 and |58, which are secured by means of suitable brackets or posts |59 and |60 projecting inwardly from vertical main frame member 22.

' The lead screws |26al for operating lower cam plate |20a, and which are of rcourse disposed at the angle of the inclination of cam plate |20a and its direction of travel, are supported at' the bottom by bearings |64 formed on the aforementioned mounting brackets |5|. On the lower ends of these lead screws are bevel gears |65, the hubs of which come adjacent bearings .2 |64. Collars |66 pinned on said lead screws im megliately above bearings |64 conne the lead screws against longitudinal movement. Bevel gears |65 mesh with bevel gears |61 mounted on a transverse shaft |68, the latter being rotatably mounted in the lower end portions of frame members |52 and |53. The forward end of this shaft |68 is provided with a square end portion |69, adapted to be engaged by a manual crank, notillustrated, by means of which it may be rotated. Such rotation of shaft |68 will be understood to drive bevel gears |61 and |65 to rotate lead screws |26a, thereby moving cam plate |20a which operates the swinging arms |02a carrying lower blade guide devices 94a.

The upper vlead screws |26 for upper cam plate |20 are also driven from shaft |68. Mounted on the upper ends of these lead screws |26 are bevel gears |10, the hubs of which bear downwardly against bracket members |1| in which the lead screws are journaled, said brackets |1| having portions |1|a .(Fig. 4) secured to plates 12 which are vertically slidable, for a purpose later plates.

tobe mentioned, on olf-set portions |62a and |53a of frame members |52 and |53, respectively.

Thus the vertical edges of plates |12 slidably engage vertical edges |13 of frame members |52` and |58, the shoulders |13a provided at thek offset in fiame members |52 and |53 being engageable by the lower ends of plates |12 to provide stops limiting downward movement of said Collars |14 pinned on lead screws |26 immediately below brackets |1| confine the lead screws against vertical movement. Bevel gears |10 mesh with bevel gears |15 mounted on a transverse shaft |18 journaled in the aforementioned plates |12. Shaft |16 has on its forward end, forwardly of plate |12, a bevel gear |11, which meshes with a bevel gear |18 splined on a vertical shaft |19, the latter being journaled near the top in a bearing mounted on plate |12, and at its lower end in a bearing |8| mounted on frame member |52.v A bevel gear |82 on the lower end of shaft |19, below bearing |8|, meshes with a bevel gear |83 mounted on shaft |68 (Fig. 8). A collar |84 pinned on shaft |19 immediately above bearing |8| serves to confine shaft |19 against vertical movement. Preferably, bearing |8| is formed With an extension bracket |615 carrying an extension bearing |86 for theouter end portion of shaft |68..

Thus rotation of shaft |68 not only operates lower swinging arms |02a to adjust the spacing of the lower blade guide devices, but, through the described operative interconnection with upper lead screws |26, simultaneously operates the latter to move upper cam plate |20 and therefore swing upper arms |02 to adjust the upper blade guide devices in a corresponding manner. The interconnection is of course synchronized so that the spacing of the upper blade guide devices will always be equal'to and correspond with the spacing of the lower blade guide devices.

It has previously been mentioned that the loaves preferably pass through the slicing zone along a somewhat downwardly inclined path, and it has been mentioned that the loaves in advancing toward the blades along such a path may be supported byfaninclined sustaining plate or member, such as indicated at S, which may support the loafuntil it is advanced substantially through theslicingzone. This sustaining member may then be retracted to permit the next loaf to be lifted to position along a guide plate |90 (Fig.'4), the latter being located just .forwardly of knife guide supporting arms`|02a, and being mounted, for example; on the aforementioned brackets |50 and |5|. As illustrated, this guide plate |90 along which the loaves are elevated to the slicing zone is disposed at the same angle of inclination as arms |02aor ini other words, atan inclination normal to the direction of travel of the loaves -in passing through thel Guide platev |90 has 'a forwardly slicing zone. turned portion |9|, overlying the upper ends of arms |02a and the rearward or mounting portions of blade guide devices 94a. .This forwardly turned portion |9|, the upper side of which is located in the plane ofthe upper side of loaf sustaining member S, serves as a bottom support plates 31, there is provided a suitable out-feed means for receiving the sliced loaf andconveying it forwardly from the blades. Thus. any suitable out-feed conveyor, diagrammatically indicated-in Fig..4 at C, may be employed. A suitable'out-feed conveyer is completely disclosed in my application, Ser. No. 207,931, led May 14, 1938, and entitled Band blade slicing machine,

to which reference may be had for a complete.

description of such a mechanism. lAny suitable loaf feeding means may be employed for advancing the loaves one at a time through the blades. Thus, there may be employed a conventional reciprocating ram, indicated diagrammatically at R, and which will be understood to have the usual spaced ram Vlingers adapted to advance between the blade courses. It\will of course be evident that provision must be made for changing the spacing of the ram lingers to correspond with changes in blade spacing. Suitable infeed mechanism of the type indicated at R and S is described in my Patent No. 2,106,949.

A suitable means is. provided for guiding, or serving as a hold-down member for, the top sides of the loaves, and in the present speciiic illustrative form of the invention, I.provide a means for this purpose separate oi' and below upper blade guide devices 33a. As a typical construction, I illustrate a hold-down plate 200 located -ahead of the blades and disposed at the inclination of the path of loaf travel through the slicing zone.

This hold-down plate 200 is supported at its opposite edges' by the lower legs 20| 'of bracket members 202, said brackets also havingvertically extending legs 203 which are mounted against the vertical wall 204 of a casing 205 enclosing the upper blade guide-adjustment mechanism; screws 200 reaching through casing wa1l`204 and engazing the edges of the aforementioned vertically adjustablemounting plates |12 serve to securebrackets 202 rigidly to said plates |12. Loaf hold-down plate 200 is further supported by brackets 208 securcdto the aforementioned vertical mounting plate |00. v

To provide for loaves o f different heights, loaf hold-down plate 200 together with the entire upper blade guide mechanism are adjustably movable in a vertical direction. The previously mentioned brackets |1|a which serve to journal and support lead screws |20, have portions 2 |2 to which the previously rdescribed mounting plate is rigidly secured. Plate |00, end plates |12, together with the entire upper blade guide and spacing adjustment mechanism mounted the edges of plates |12 slide vertically along the vertical edges |13 of the oset portions |52a and |53a of frame members |52 a'nd |53. The described vertically adjustable assembly ls further guided for vertical travel on frame members |52 and |53 by meansof key members 2| 3 mounted on plate |03 and engaging in vertical keyways 2|3a formed in frame members |52 and |03 (see. e. g., Figs. 'I and 12).-

Brsckets nl also have projecting nu: porutns 2 |4 which threadedly engage vertical lead screws 2|5. These lead screws 2|5 are supported by bearings 2|0 'and 2|1 extending from the upper. onset portions |52a and |53a of frame members |52 and |53. Mounted on lead screws 2|5 immediately above bearings 2|1 are bevel gears 2|0,

collars 2|0 immediately below bearings 2|1 conlining the lead screws against endwise movement.

Bevel gears 2li mesh with bevelV gears 22| on a horizontal tr erse'shaft 22|, the latter being journaled in e upper end .portion of frame member |52 a andin a plate 22|a secured to'and extending upwardly from the upper end portion of frame member |53a. Shaft 22| may be driven Y in any suitable or convenient manner; for example, its forward end is shown as having a squared portion 222 adapted to lue-engaged by a hand crank, not shown.

It will be understood that-rotation of shaft 22| will effect rotation of lead screws 2|5, and therefore vertical adjustment movement ofthe assembly comprising mounting plates |09 and |12, together with the blade guide devices andtheir spacing adjustment mechanism, and also loaf hold-down plate 200. During such adjustment the gear through which the upper blade guide spacing adjustment 'mechanism is operated, and

which has previously been-described as splined on its vertical'driving shaft |10, simply slides vertically on the latter. Thus the adjustment just described enables the.'spacing distance be- 'tween loaf bottom guide member |0| and loaf top guide or hold-down member to be regulated for loaves of different heights.

There is preferably also employed, in addition -to loaf hold-down member 200, which is. located ahead of the blades, a second loaf hold-down plate or bar 200a located just beyond the blades. This member'200a (see Fig. 4) is mounted on brackets 202, its lower surface being in the plane ofthe lower surface of member 200, and it will be obvious that members 200 and 200a will move alike inthe course of adjustment of the machine for loaves of diiferent heights.

` Drum 00, as .previouslymentioned comprises'a series or row of individual drums or rolls 00, the peripheries of which engage individual band blades travelling between upper drum 3| and idler drum 05. -The make-up of this segmented drum 00 is shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, to which reference is now directed. Each roll-00 comprises a rim 240, whose lperiphery is adapted to engage an individual blade, and a web 24| and hub 242. Hub 242 is formed with an axim bore 244, within which is received a ball bearing 245. The inner race ring of bearing 245 is mounted on a pair4 of Vdisks 240, and between flanges openings 250 formed in a pair of parallel substantially triangular mit Plates 25|, the latter being secured to disks^245 by suitable screws, as illustrated. Plates 25| are mounted on a hub 254 which is rotatable on, as well as freely slidable along, a relatively stationary shaft 255 extending transversely of the machine and having its ends held by mountings 250 and 251 secured to frame bar 23 and frame casting 2|, respectively.

VEach drum or roll 03 is similarly, supported for 'is located to the rearv of the axis of drums 03,

andsubstantially at the height of center shaft 01a, and it will'be evident that swinging movement of-plates 25| in a right handed direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5, will bring individualrolls n 89 into tensioning engagement with the individual blades passing over drum 8|.

The hubs being slidable along shaft 255, they, together with the pairs of roll-carrying plates 25| which they support, may be moved therealong for the purpose l.of adjustment of -the spacing between the individual blade engaging rolls 89. Means in accordance with the present invention for so moving the pairs of plates 25| along shaft 255 will be described at a laterpoint in the speciflcation.

The blades being placed in equally spaced portions on upper and lower drums 3| and 32, and the rolls 89 being spaced so as'to be opposite them, the blades are then tensioned by swinging plates 25| in a righthanded dii e'ction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5, said plates 25|, which act as lever means :or bell-cranks, thereby lifting rolls 89 into engagement with the blades just below upper drums 3|. The blades are then separably tensioned by individual .blade tensioning assemblies, a preferred form of which in accordance with the present invention will now be described.

A block 260 is trunnioned between the lower portion of each pair of plates 25| (see Fig. 5a.), and slidable through this block is a tension rod 26|.v 'I'he rearward end yof this rod 26| has mounted thereon a tension adjustment nut 262, which engages one end of a compression spring 263 encircling rod 26| and engaging at its other end against block 260. The forward end of each tension rod 26| is formed with a hook portion 26|a, on which is mounted a roller 266 adapted to engage in a longitudinally extending groove 261 formedin a bar 268 extending transversely of the machine and mounted on the main frame, as by means of bracketsV 269 and 210 (Figs. l and n Because of the desirability of employing rollers 266 of fair diameter, the hook portions of successive rods 26| taken transversely across the machine are arranged alternately above and below bar 268, the rollers 266 of the lower hooks engaging in a 'lower groove 261, while the rollers 266 of the upper hooks engage in a parallel groove -261 placed just above. As the pairs of roll-carrying plates 25| are moved along mounting shaft 255, the rollers 266 at the forward ends of tensioning rods 26| wili roll freely along grooves 261, the anchoring means for the tensioning assemblies thus accommodating themselves freely and readily to the adjusted positions of blade tensioning rolls 89. l

Preferred and illustrative means in accordance with the invention for shifting the pairs of rollcarrying plates 25| along shaft 255 for the purpose of regulating the spacing between the'tensioning rolls will now be described. A pair of upstanding frame members 280 and 28| (Fig. 10i are mounted on opposite ends of shaft 255, immediately adjacent shaft mountings 256 and 251, being secured in upright positions in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 280a set ragainst shaft 255, and mounted on the upper ends of members 289l and 28| is a transversely extending frame member 282. Extending transversely through this frame member 282 are a plurality of pivot pins 283, the ends of which project through opposite sides of member 282, as indicated in Fig. 5. These pivot pins 283 are equally spaced along frame member 282, and there is one foreach of blade tensioning rolls 89 except for the middle roll, asappears in Fig. 10. Keeper bars 283a placed against the outer ends of pins 283, and mounted at'their ends on frame mem` ber 282, confine the pins in proper endwise position. Pivotally mounted on the projecting ends of these pins 283 are depending arms 284, the

-lower ends oi the latter being-'located one on each side of shaft 255 and reachingv in between the individual members of each pair of plates 25|, in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 10. It will be evident frominspection of Fig. 10, that swinging movement of arms 284 on pivots 283 will result in translation of the pairs of plates 25| along the shaft 255. The lower ends of arms 284 fit in between plates 25| without substantial clearance, and are. so rounded or shaped, as at 284a (see Fig. I0) as tol reach substantially the full distance between the plates throughout the angular swing of the arms. Above said rounded portions,'the arms are necked down somewhat, as at 285, in order to avoid interference with the edges of plates 25| at the extremes of angular movement of the arms, and for the samepurpose, plates 25| are cut fairly low where the interference would otherwise occur, as indicated at 286 in Fig. 5.

For the purpose of swinging arms 284 to adjust the separation distance between pairs of plates 25|, there is provided a vertically movable cam member formed with cam slots of progressively increasing pitches, of the same general type as that used in connection with the arms that carry the blade guide devices. This cam member, designated generally at 290, is arranged between shaft 255 and frame member 282, and between the two rows of swinging arms 284, as illustrated. Nut members 29| projecting from opposite ends of cam member 290 are mounted on vertical lead screws 292 and 293, by means of which the cam member may be adjusted in a vertical direction. The two opposite, fiat faces of cam member l299 are formed with a plurality of diagonal cam slots 295, andreceived in these cam slots are follower blocks 296 which are on the ends of pivot studs 291 pivotally mounted in arms 284.

I ead screw 293 is journaled at its lower end in a vertical bore 298 in shaft 255 and at its upper end in a bearing 299 on frame member 282, the Aupper end of said lead screw 293 having mounted thereon a sprocket 293erl whose hub engages the upper end of bearingv 299 and supports the lead screwin a vertical position.

Lead screw 292 is on the upper end portion of a long vertical shaft 300, which, at the top, is journaled in a bearing 299a in frame member 282, and which extends downwardly through and has bearing in a vertical transverse bore in shaft 255, and is provided near itslower end with a bearing 302 mounted on a bracket 303 extending from frame casting 2|. On the upper end of shaft 300 is a sprocket 304, the hub of which bears downwardly on the upper end of bearing 299a, and which is connected with sprocket 293e by means of chain 304a.

On the lower end of shaft 300 below bearing 302, there is mounted a bevel gear 305, which meshes with a bevel gear 306 mounted on a shaft 301 'journaled in a bearing308 forming a part of mounting 303 (Fig. 11). Also mounted on shaft 301 is a driving sprocket 3|0, driven by chain 3|| from sprocket 3I2 mounted on the rearward end of shaft |68 (Fig. 8). It will be recalled that this shaft |68 is manually rotated to accomplish adjustment -of the spacing interval between blade guide devices 93a and 94a.l By means of the interconnectionbetween shaft |68 an'd cam plate 290, the spacing between blade tensioning rolls 89 is automatically simultaneously adjusted in a corresponding manner, the interconnection being, of course, so arranged and adjusted that the blade roll adjustment arms 254 are synchronized.

It has previously been mentioned that, in the present illustrative embodiment of the machine,

no shifting arms 254 are necessarily provided for vthe central pair of tensioning-roll carrying nal movement along shaft 255 and are xed with` said central roll centered on the center line of the machine. Eor this purpose I may provide any suitable means, such for example, as a pin 325 set in and projecting from shaft 255 through a circumferential slot 32| in the hub 254 on which the central plates are mounted, the pin confining the assembly against longitudinal movement 'along shaft 255, but not interfering with the necessary rotative movement aboutsaid shaft, slot 32| of course being made of sufliclent lengthto 'provide the necessary degree of rotation. 1

The cam slots 255 on each face of cammem- 4ber 295 are symmetrically arranged on each side of the center line, qnd, as here shown, slope inwardly in a downward direction. The inclinations of successive cam slots increase progressively from the center outwardly in both directions, as illustrated, the position and inclination of each cam slot being 'such aswill cause the associated swinging arms 254 to -move the corresponding pair of tensioning-roll carrying plates to positions transversely of the machine corresponding to the adjusted positions of the blades as the spacing interval between the courses of the latter is regulated. Under any'conditions the blades will of course be constrained to pass f over drums 35 and 3| in equally spaced positions located longitudinally of the latter as determined by the adjusted positions of the blade'guide devices 53a and 54a; the disposition of the angular cam slots 255 controlling the lpositions of the tension rolls is then such that the latter at all times assume positions corresponding to the positions of the blades as so regulated. For example, assuming that the blade guide devicesare initially adjusted for a blade course spacing interval of and that the adjustment is to be changed to a spacing interval of then if in the course oi' .this adjustment the blade. guide devices of the two courses of a given blade move outwardly through distances of and the angularity of the cam slot 255 controlling the position of the tensioning roll 55 for that blade Y will be such that said tensioning roll will at the same time be moved outwardlythrough a distance which is approximately the mean of 1%" and or in other words, through a distance of H". Thus it will be seen that apsingle easily performed operation accomplishes at once simultaneous and corresponding adjustment of the spacing interval of the upper and lower bladeguide devices, as well as of the spacing imm-.7.`

val of the individual blade tensioning rolls.-

Figs. 17 and 18 show the optional provision of a gauge .to indicate the exact thickness of slice for which the machine is adjusted. 'Ihis gauge consists simply of a plate 345 mounted on bar calibrated in slice thicknesses, as illustrated. the

vi'ormly between said elements.

l 2,101,938-, "v spacing devices 55a and 54a and the tensioning pointer element 'comprising the guide slot a o: the outside blade guide device 53a which is movable therealon'g as the mechanism is Vadjusted for different slicethicknesses.

'I'he drawings illustrate the preferred use of a 5- pair of-long backing-up rollers- 355v and 35|, which are rotatably mounted in any suitable manner on shafts 352 and 353, respectively, said shafts being supported as by means of suitable mountings 354 secured to the edges of frame members |52 and |53. These rollers back up the bladecourses at the slicing zone, holding the blades against deflection by the pressure of the loaves as the latter are moved against the blades. For a. more complete description of such back-up l5 rollers, reference may be had to my copending application entitled ABand blade slicing machine, led May 14, 1'938, Ser. No. 207,931. In the form of my invention shown in Figure 7 where the series of elements to be adjusted are '9 the blade guides 53a which are mounted on and adjusted by-thevswinling arms |52, and also in the form of my invention shownin Fig. 10 where the'series of elements to be adjusted are the blade-tensioning assemblies 'which are mounted l23 and are slidable on shaft 255, it can be said that these series of elements in both cases are ad--l justable with respect to each other substantially longitudinally of, i. e. lengthwise, of the approximate alinement which these elements bear 50 to each other, this extending transversely of the machine; and it can lalso be'said that these elements, both in Figs. '7 and 10, are operatively as sociated with the swinging arms |52 or 254 and are movable therewith for adjustment. In Fig. 7, 35 even if the arm supporting bars |51 were not movable verticallyaboutpivot |55, or movable in any other manner for'correcting the alinement of the blade guide members 53a, it would still be entirelyY proper to say that these elements 53a remain in substantial alinement with respect to each other in all positions of adjustment notwithstanding the minor discrepancies introduced bythe arc along which they are adjusted by the Swinging of arms |52 about pivots |54. In any event thediscrepancy fromv perfect alinement would be small, so that the series of elements 53a could still be' said to be in substantial alinement even if bars |5| were not movable. However, the movement of bars |51 does make the alinement-more perfect and 'I consider this as a further feature of my invention.- v

I have now described in considerable detail one present preferred and illustrative embodiment of the present invention; it is to be understood, however, that this is for illustrative purposes only. and that'various changes in design,

Vstructure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the in'- vention or of the appended claims. I claim:

1. Adjusting mechanism comprising 'the com- `bxxmtionof a mmtipuity of substantially aimed Y each of said elements being operatively associated with one o'fgsaidswinging armsfand being movable therewith for adjustmenhand means operativelyv associated with for simultanevously successive Vthrough progres- 255s and provided with scale indicia 34| suitably sively ,varying angles to vary! theapacinguni-v 2. Mechanism for regulating the, spacing between a multiplicity of elements arranged in a. substantially alined row, comprising an arm supporting' bar normally disposed substantially parallel to said row of elements, a multiplicity of swinging arms pivotally mounted on said supporting bar on parallel-axes spaced along said bar, said swinging arms having operative connection with said elements, means operatively engaging all of said arms and adapted to swing successive arms through progressively increasing angles, and means for swinging said arm supporting bar as said arms are swung on their individual pivot axes` to cooperatein maintaining said row of elements in good alinement.

3. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums and providing between said drums blade courses that run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying means extending transversely of said blade courses, a plurality of swinging arms, pivotally mounted on said arm carrying means on spaced parallel pivot axes, there being one such arm for each of said blade courses, said arms being adapted to swing in planes which are transverse of said blade courses, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having bladeguides which are adapted to guide said blade courses into said spaced parallel slicing planes, and means for swinging said arms to spread them apart orv draw them together.

4. A band'blade slicing 4machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums, courses of said blades between said blade supporting drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying means extending transversely of said blade courses, a plurality of swinging arms pivotally mounted on said arm carrying means on spaced parallel pivot axes, there being one such arm for each blade course, said arms being adapted to swing in a common plane, blade lguide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guides adapted to guide and twist said blade courses into said spaced parallel slicing planes, and means for swinging successive arms through progressively increasing distances.

5. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of lband blades running about said drums, courses of said blades between said blade supportingl drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying lmeans extending transversely of said blade courses, a plurality of swinging arms, one for eachblade course, pivotally mounted .on said arm carrying means on spaced parallel pivot axes, said arms being adapted to swing in a plane which is transverse of said blade courses, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes ofthe arms, said blade guide devices having blade guide ways which are parallel to the pivot 'axis of the blade guide device on the swinging arm, and means connected with said arms for swinging successive arms through progressively increasing distances in both directions from the center positions of said arms.

6. A band blade sucing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums, courses of said blades between said blade supporting drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying means extending transversely of said blade courses, a plurality of swinging arms, one for each blade course pivotally mounted on said arm carrying means on spaced parallel pivot axes, said arms being adapted to swing in a plane which is transverse of said blade courses, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guides adapted to guide and twist the blade course into said spaced parallel slicing planes, and means for spreading said arms apart or drawing them together comprising a cam member formed with a plurality of cam elements of diverse pitches operable on said arms.

7. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums, courses of said blades between said blade supporting Adrums being adapted to run in spaced parallel` slicing planes, arm carrying means extending transversely of said blade courses, a'plurality of swinging arms, one foreach blade course, pivotally mounted on said arm carrying means on spaced parallel pivot axes, said arms being adapted to swing in a plane which is transverse of said blade courses, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guide ways which are parallel to the pivot axis of the bladc guide device on the swinging arm, means for spreading said arms apart or drawing them together comprising a cam member movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swing of said arms vand formed with a plurality of cam slots of diverse pitches, and follower elements on said arms received within said cam slots.

8. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums, courses of said blades between said blade supporting drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying means extending transversely of said blade courses, a plurality of swinging arms, one for each blade course, pivotally mounted on said arm carrying-means on spaced parallel pivot axes, said arms being adapted to swing in aplane which is transverse of said blade courses, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guides adapted to guide and twist 'the blade courses into said spaced parallel slicing planes, means for spreading said arms apart or drawing them together comprising a cam plate movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swing of said arms, said cam plate` having a plurality of cam elements extending at progressively increasing inclinations in both directions with reference to a center line located approximately midway of said plurality of cam elements, and follower elements onsaid arms cooperating with said camA ed to swing in a plane which is transverse of said blade courses, lblade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes oi the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guide ways which are parallel to the pivot .axis

oi the blade guide device on the swinging' arm, meanslor spreading said arms apart or drawing them together comprising a cam member movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swing o! said arms, and formed with a plurality oi cam slots oi diverse pitches, follower elements on said arms received within said cam slots, and manually operable lead screw means for moving said cam member in said plane.

10. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting driuns. a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums, courses of said blades between said blade supporting drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying means extending transversely of said blade courses,a plurality of swinging arms, one for each blade course,

pivotally mounted on said arm carrying means-I on spaced parallel pivot axes, said arms being adapted to swing in a plane which is transverse of said blade courses, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on the free ends of said swinging arms on axes which are substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guide ways which are parallel to the pivot axis oi the blade guide device on the swinging arm, means for spreading said arms apart or drawing them together comprising a cam member movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swing of said arms and formed with a plurality ci cam slots ci' diverse pitches, and follower elements extendingfrom intermediate points of said arms and received within said'cam slots.

11. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums, a. multiplicity oi band blades running about said drums, lcourses of said blades between said blade supporting drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, a mounting means opposite said blade courses, arm carrying means comprising a pair of bars extending transversely of the blade courses in opposite directions from a center line and pivotally mounted -at their adjacent ends on said mounting means so as to be capable of swinging action in a plane transverse of the blade courses, a plurality of swinging arms, one for each blade course, pivotally lmounted on said arm carrying bars on spaced parallel axes which are parallel to the pivot mounting axes of said bars, a plurality of approximately aligned blade .bars in said transverse plane to maintain said .blade guide devices in approximate allnement.

12. A band blade slicing machine comprising spaced blade supporting drums. a multiplicity oi band blades running about said drums, courses of said` blades between said blade supporting drums being adapted to run in spaced parallel slicing planes, a mounting means opposite said blade courses,.arm carrying means comprising a pair of bars extending transversely ci the blade courses in opposite directions from a center line and pivotally mounted at their adjacent ends on said mounting means so as to be capable oi swinging action in a plane transverse of the blade courses, a plurality oi swinging arms, one vfor each blade course, pivotally mounted on said arm carrying bars on spaced parallel axes which are parallel to the pivot mounting axes of said bars, blade guide devices pivotally mounted on said swinging arms on axes which are, substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the arms, said blade guide devices having blade guide ways which are parallel to the pivot axis of the blade guide device on the swinging arm, means connected with said arms i'or swinging successive arms in both directions from said center line through progressively increasing distances, and means interlinked with said last mentioned means for ysimultaneously and automatically swinging both said arm-carrying bars in directions toward said blade guide devices tomaintalnsaid device in lapproximate allnement.

13. In a band blade slicing machine having spaced blade supporting drums, a plurality of band blades running side by side about said drums, a corresponding plurality of individually movable blade tensioning assemblies mounted side by side in opposition to said blades, said blade tensioning assemblies each comprising a blade tensioning roller engaging the correspond- 'ing blade, yielding means urging said roller into ity of cam elements of diverse pitches operating l' on said arms, and means for moving said cam member.

14. Adjusting mechanism comprising the combination of a multiplicity of substantially alined elements, said elements being adjustable with respect to each other substantially longitudinally of said alinement, arm supporting means, a'multiplicity of swinging arms of which each is operatively associated with one of said elements, pivotal connections for sup g said arms on said arm supporting means, aid arms being adapted to swing on said pivotal connections in a common plane, and means operatively associated with said arms and movable in a straight line in a direction approximately parallel to said plane for simultaneously swinging successive arms through progressively varying angles to uniformly vary the spacing between said elements.

l5. Adjusting mechanism comprising the combination of a multiplicity of substantially alined elements, said elements being adjustable with respect to each other substantially longitudinally of said alinement, movabIy-mqunted arm supporting means, a multiplicity of swinging arms pivotally mounted on said arm supporting means on parallel axes spaced along said supporting means, each of said arms carrying one of said elements at a location spaced'from said pivotal mountings, movably mounted means operatively associated with said arms for swinging said arms to uniformly vary the spacing between said elements, 'and means for imparting to said arm supporting means a movement to cooperate in maintaining said elements in good alinement with respect to each other.

16. A band blade slicing machine comprising.'

spaced blade supporting drums, a multiplicity of band blades running about said drums and providing between said drums blade courses that run in spaced parallel slicing planes, arm carrying means arranged transversely of said blade courses, a plurality' of swinging arms, a plurality of spaced pivotal connections for pivotallyr mounting said swinging arms on said arm carrying means, a plurality of blade guide devices of which there is one for each of said blade courses, pivotal connections for pivotally mounting said blade guide devices on said swinging arms at places spaced from the pivotal connections by which the arms are mounted on the arm carrying means, said blade guide devices having blade guides adapted to guide said blade courses into said spaced parallel slicing planes, and means for swinging said arms to vary the spacing between said blade courses.

' WALTER HARTMAN. 

